your nail varnish secrets??

[flyfireflyfly]

I've recently started to care for my nails more but have never been brilliant at painting them
So do you have any top tips, how do you paint them
Also what are the best colours and brands I should be buying

[Gem124]

I like Barry M, they do lots of lovely colours, last well and are inexpensive. Tips wise I find 3 thin layers works better than fewer thick ones and always use a top coat, abs go over the tip to stop chipping :-)

[burnishedsilver]

Seche Vite top coat.
I wish I'd known about it years ago.

[stripytees]

Don't paint too close to your cuticles or the sides of your nails. There should be no polish on skin to clean up when done properly. This is by far the best way for professional looking results.

[thewreckofthehesperus]

Try to get polish with the wide brush. I find it makes it much easier to use. For staying power I use the nyc brand from pennys/primary. I use a base coat and with two coats of the nyc I get a good few days before my nails start to chip. It's a bargain price too!

[Sorehead]

I'm not very good at painting my nails, so do them before I'm planning to wash my hair. Washing my hair seems to get rid of the bits I've managed to get on the skin round my nails. A better way to do this would probably be to buy a corrector pen/ a cotton bud soaked in nail varnish remover!

I'd recommend sticking to fairly neutral colours to begin with because it will be less noticeable if you make a mess than if you use bright colours.

[poppym12]

base coat, 2 thin coats and then top coat seems to work for me and usually lasts at least a week or until i get bored of the colour

[CaptainDavey]

I paint each nail in three overlapping broad stripes for neatness, one down the middle then one down each side.

Also follow a tip I read ages ago which is not to follow your own nail shape if it's a bit wonky. Paint the polish straight up the side of your nail. The shape of the polish is all people will see and they won't notice any slight unpainted nail sides. Makes my nails look 10x better!

[flyfireflyfly]

Thanks guys I'm rubbish at getting them to dry and not chip so will try your tips

[CusheyButterfield]

I second the recommendation for Seche Vite top coat. Polish dries quickly and lasts a lot longer with it. I've only been using it for 6 months or so, and wish I'd discovered it years ago!

[wearejustlikeKevinBacon]

I bought Seche Vite partly because I was told that it drys fairly quickly, I love it. I just don't get to use it very often.

I pain them the same CaptainDavey does. I also use nail envy as a base coat to stop the colour staining my nails.